Duplicating machine



June 23-, 1931. J. J. FLANIGAN 1,811,176

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 23, 1931.

J. J. FLANIGAN DUPLICA'IIING MACHINE Filed April 10. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IIIII/I/III/IIIII/A 'wlunlll Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES :romv. a. FLANIGAN', or OAK PARK, ILLINOIS DUPLICATING MACHINE 1 App1ication fi1ed April 10, 1929. Serial No. 353,918.

This invention relates to the duplicating B reciprocablefon the frame. The frame art wherein an imprint ofjan original writing or the like is made on a gelatin transfer pad from which copies are made by impressing 5 sheetssuccessively thereon.

Theprincipal object of the invention is to provide the gelatin in the form of tablets or pads of convenient size capable of being used either as individual units or in conjunction with a machine to form theimpression bed of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a duplicating machine which is especially adapted for the .use of the individual gelatin tablets. I V

' Another object of the invention isto provide a self-contained duplicating machine in which the individual gelatin tablets are stored in condition for instant use and in the proper order of use. H

Another object of the invention is to provide aduplicating machine having a removable impression bed in the form of flat detachable unit gelatin tablets capable of use apart from the machine. f

Another object of the invention is to rovide a compact readily portable duplicating machine having the capacity for a number of changes or renewals of gelatin impression surfaces to meet a general demand for a ma chine of moderate cost.

Another object is to provide a gelatin impression plate or tablet which is inexpensive tomanufacture and which can be sold commercially and used as a unit apart from the duplicating machine. v

The drawings show a selected embodiment of my invention, and referring thereto 40 machine embodying the invention. I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1*with one of the gelatin tablets in operating position on the frame of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section on line 33 of Fig. 2; and V 7 Fig.4 is a perspective view of one of the impression gelatin tablets.

The duplicating machine shown in the drawings comprises a frame A and a carriage pression tablets.

itself comprises a rectangular box like structure formed to provide an inclosure or cabi net for the storage of individualgelatin im- This framehas end walls 1, a side wall 2 and a top 3, the other side wall being omitted to permit the gelatin tablets to be conveniently inserted or removed from the storage compartment formedbeneath the top and between said walls. In this structure the frame is made as a casting although for thepurpose of my invention it may be made of sheet metal, wood,-or other suitable material. The frame has strengthening ribs 2, 3, on the inside of theside wall and on the under side of the top-wall. At the open side of theframe the corners 4: are rounded to form posts and to finish off the edges of the opening. This cabinet frame may be as high as is necessary to provide a required capacity forthe storageofgelatin tablets; it is intended to be placed on a table or other suitable supportand this support may be made in the form of a sectional cabie net having additional storage space for gelatin tabletsdepending upon the requirements of theparticular user. The top wall3 of the frame forms a bed plate for supporting the gelatin tablet C, Fig. 2. Any suitable means maybe providedfor holding the gelatin tab? lets separate from each other within thestor-- age compartment in the frame. In'the drawings I have shown a series of parallel instanding flanges 7 mounted on the end'walls in horizontal position to form guide rests one above the other to receive'and support the tablets which are inserted in and removed v r fromthe cabinet frame laterally through the Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a duplicating open side thereof. -Gelatin used for duplicating'purposes is generally maintained soft and in proper condition by moisture applied by wetting the gelatin surface. This is done generally when the gelatin is stored away after use. The purposein making the cabinet frame forms an inclosure for the tablets stored therein and tends to retard 'evaporationofthe moisture sufliciently to prevent the gelatin from drying or hardening while its surface is becoming re-useable.

In the machine shown in the drawings,

' application.

Figs. 1 and 2, a carriage B is mounted to travel back and forth above a tablet on the bed, and also tofeed the sheets to be imprinted and to strip them from the impression surface. The carriage herein shown carries the paper chute 9, the platen roller 10, and the grip roller 11, and it is fully set forth and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 344,203, filed March 5, 1929. This carriage comprises a bar 12 whose end 14 is mounted upon a. sleeve 15 on the guide rod 13 as disclosed in said co-pending This sleeve has ro-llersrlti at each end radially disposed with respect to the guide rod and adapted to operate thereon so that the carriage may be easily moved back and forth. The sleeve is rotatable about the guide rod 13 so that the entire carriage may be swung upwardly clear of the impression bedof the machine to permit insertion and removal of the tablet-s. The guideqrod 13 is bolted at its ends 17 to the laterally turned ends 18 of a bar 18 which is bolted to the side wall of the frame. The rear end of this supporting bar extends considerably beyond the rear end of the frame to accommodate the carriage and enable the platen roller to travel the full length of the impression surface of the gelatin tablet. The opposite end of the carriage bar 12 is turned downwardly at 19 and carries a roller 20 which rides on the trackway formed by a strap member 21 which extends from the front end of the frame to a point beyond the rear end of the frame and is then turned angularly downwardly at 22 and bolted to the corner of the frame, this diagonal portion 22 serving as a brace to support the extended end of the trackway. The end of the trackway is extended beyond the frame for the same reason that the guide rod is extended, namely, to enable the platen roller to travel the full length of the impression surface of the gelatin tablet. The roller 20 forms an easy operating bearing for this end of the carriage and at the same time does not interfere with the carriage being swung on the guide rod as previously mentioned.

An end margin bar 23is mounted on the frame across the front end thereof to serve as a stop for registering the sheet of paper 24 in impression position. In the type of platen carriage shown the platenrollerlO and the grip roller 11 co-operate to grip the sheet between them and to feed it on to the gelatin surface on the impressionstroke of the carriage, and to strip thesheet from the gelatin" surface on the return stroke of the carriage. The platen roller is mounted at the ends of the side arms 25 of a yoke 26 which is pivoted at 27 on the carriage and provided with a handle 28 whereby the yoke may be swung upwardly to separate the platen roller from the grip roller and permit insertion of the sheet to be printed between the rollers.

The unit gelatin table C, Fig. 4:, is preferably rectangular in shape and of a size to conform to the bed plate of the machine. This tablet comprises a backing or supp0rting plate 30 having a film or layer of gelatin 31 on one side thereof. This backing plate may be made of any suitable material and should be stiff enough to maintain the surface of the gelatin practically flat throughout its area. In addition to this it should be suiiiciently rigid to stand the necessary handling incident to its use and the usual packing and shipping conditions. I prefer to make the backing member of a suitable thickness of waterproof press board because press board satisfactorily meets the requirements andis comparatively inexpensive. The gelatin film or layer 31 is of substantially uniform thickness throughout its area and may be applied to the backing member in sheet form and cemented thereto, or it may be molded on the backing, or it may be heated and poured upon the backing, or the backing may be molded integral with the gelatin so asto provide a stifiening reinforcement for the gelatin layer. The ends 32 of the gelatin layer are preferably brought close to the ends of the backing member 30 slight margins 33, however, being left so that the backing member will serve as a protection to the ends of the gelatin layer and also so that the gelatin layer may be brought close to the margin bar 23. The edges and corners of the gelatin layer are preferably rounded or slighty bev eled to finish off these edges and to arrange them less liable to damage. Wider side margins 341- of the backing member are provided between the side edges of the gelatin and the edges of the backing to provide sufficient room beyond the gelatin layer for the means of attaching the tablet to the bed plate of the machine. These side margins have keyhole slots 35 which are engaged by upstanding studs 36 on the bed. Tnese studs have overhanging heads 37 to form hooks, Fig. 3, to lock the tablet in position on the bed. v In positioning the tablet it is arranged on the bed with the slots engaging the studs and then the tablet is shifted laterally until the studs enter the narrow portion of the keyhole slots. The overhanging heads 37 then engage the top of the backing and retain the tablet in its prop-er position. I prefer to provide the locking studs at one side of the frame and lock the opposite edge of the tablet by spring clips 39 bolted at 10 to the side of the frame and overhanging the. bed plate.

By providing keyhole slots 35 on each side margin of the backing board with their enlarged ends 38 inwardly directed the tablet may be used end for end, which is a convenience, and it maybe reversed as required to facilitate theuse of the entire area of the gelatin surface. Ordinarilythe imprint on the gelatin surface will be located adjacent a considerable gelatin surface clear; by' reversing the tablet this clear surface will the margin bar and a small imprint may leave be brought into position for receiving an imprint in juxtaposition to the margin bar. The tablet forms a simple and convenient means for handing and using the gelatin material which, as is well known, is easily damaged. The backing forms a protecting margin about the gelatin and enables the tablet to be handled and inserted in the machine and storage cabinet and removed therefrom without touching the gelatin. The

tablet is light in weight, it is in a flat and convenient form and shape for use and it may be readily arranged in proper position on the bed of the machine and removed therefrom, and can also be readily inserted in and removed from the storage cabinet.

I have shown the invention in a-simple form which I have found satisfactory in accomplishing the desired results but I am aware that chages in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention to adapt it for different conditions and for other purposes, and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a frame having a supporting bed, a substantially L-shaped margin bar fixed at one end of the bed, a gelatin tablet on said bed, and means for detachably holding the tablet in operative relation to the margin bar. 2. The combination of a frame having supporting bed, a substantially L-shaped margin bar fixed at one end of the bed, a gelatin tablet on said bed and having openings therein and means on said bed engaging said openings to hold the gelatin tablet in operative relation to said margin bar.

3. The combination of a frame having a supporting bed, studs upstanding from said bed, and agelatin impression tablet detachably engageable with said studs for retaining the tablet in said bed. i

4. The combination of a frame having a supporting bed, studs upstanding from said 7 bed adjacent one side thereof, clips adjacent the side of the bed, and a gelatin impression tablet adapted to engage said clips and having openings to receive said studs for holding the tablet in position on the bed.

5. In a duplicating machine which has a bed having a flat gelatin impression tablet detachably mounted thereon and 'a carriage movable over the bed in operative relation to said tablet, the combination of a frame supporting said bed and having a compartment therein, and means in said compartment for supporting flat gelatin impression tablets detached from said bed.

' 6. In a duplicating machine which has a bed having a flat gelatin impression tablet detachably mounted thereon and a carriage movable over the bed in operative relation gelatin impression tablets when detached fromsaid bed.

' JOHN J. FLANIGAN. 

